Speeches

Thank you, Catherine [Lhamon]. I can't thank Catherine enough for the extraordinary leadership that she has shown as head of our Office for Civil Rights and for her passionate commitment to protect and ensure equal opportunity for all students.

Thanks, Ron [Thorpe] for that warm introduction and for all of your leadership. Congratulations on what has become one of the most dynamic discussions of teaching anywhere. You’ll be very relieved to know that unlike some of your other speakers, I will not be singing a capella, sharing my views on Abraham Lincoln, or putting a new operating system on your computer.

I want to thank Jim Steyer and Common Sense Media for bringing this event together and starting this important dialogue – and for your tireless efforts to keep the digital world that our kids inhabit safe and healthy.

Thank you, Governor Beshear. It’s great to be back at the NGA. And I welcome this opportunity to talk about the role of early learning with our governors. On both sides of the political aisle, it’s the governors who are really leading the nation in expanding high-quality early learning, from birth to age five.

Thanks, David, for that warm introduction, and for all your leadership. I'm delighted to see leaders whose work has been so important to empowering parents: Otha Thornton of the National PTA; Janet Murguía of the National Council of La Raza; Marc Morial of the National Urban League; and Kati Haycock of The Education Trust.

My thanks to CEO Edwards and President Dukes for their comments, and for that gracious introduction.

I thank you for your unwavering commitment to equal opportunity for all students and your leadership in rethinking school discipline in Maryland. And I’m so pleased to be joined here today by my good friend and colleague, Attorney General Holder.

Good evening, everyone. Thank you, Doug, for the warm welcome, and for all your hard work and leadership at ACTE. I also want to recognize our UFT colleagues in the room, for your tireless efforts on behalf of students.